September 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[KeyFlock]

External pip on one of the la bresse eggs

YAY!!!

 

[Fluffyserama]

The LA bresse is out

 

[Fluffyserama]

Is a day early, but seems to be strong

 

[harmesonfarm]

The LA bresse is out

congratulations!!

 

[Fluffyserama]

It just pipped, zipped and was out. So quick, so painless. Nice change from last night.

 

[two j farm]

Day 20 have 5 chicks out and more pips!

 

[KeyFlock]

The LA bresse is out

Day 20 have 5 chicks out and more pips!

Congrats to both of you!!

 

[marlene]

The LA bresse is out

Wonderful news.

 

[ladyargentum]

Not a rock, roll, peep or pip yet from my quail eggs in the incubator, and it's Sunday afternoon.

I am thinking maybe I should move the whole set-up into the spare bedroom and close the door. I go back to work tomorrow, and our new rescue dog might get excited if quails start popping out like popcorn while I'm away. That could be a big disaster, if she knocks the incubator around.

Do you usually seclude the incubator away from dogs/cats?

I have both my incubator and my brooder in the spare bedroom. It was supposed to be a safe place away from cat dogs and kids, but my two year old figured out how to open the lock with a coin just like we do.

The brooder is gonna be moved to the garage soon

I had the incubator set up in a spare ensuite bathroom so that there were 2 doors between it and the cats/dogs. I initially had the brooder in the attached room but only until all the chicks were hatched and dry. The brooder was then moved to the shed. I am using a Brinsea ecoglow 20 but also put a heated dog mat under it wrapped in a towel. It doesn't get very warm at all but I felt bad them only having warmth above them and being in the shed. It was an easy way to give them just a tad more warmth. They have been in the shed for 2 nights and seem fine. I will turn off the dog mat after the first week.

I suppose I should have realised but 10 chicks poo A LOT. I mean the paper towel is filthy 30mins after changing it. I will be swapping that for a different bedding tonight as all the chicks will be at least 2.5 days old and are running around now

 

[Joplus]

Wow congrats to all the new chicks! Very cute. I'm on day 11 and things are looking good, getting very eggcited!

So it's clear to me that my roo is a super stud. Every egg was fertile except 3 out of 29 and every egg I crack open for eating (and dog food) has the bullseye. So I messaged my cousin's wife that I have extras for free. She has a homesteading blog and has a 7 egg capacity incubator and last hatch was pretty dismal, only 2 and one a roo, which we're not allowed to have (mine is quiet for some reason). She's picking up them this week and super eggcited. It feels good to help out a fellow hatcher.